Jonathan Clauss returns to OGC Nice training after contested injury | OneFootball

Jonathan Clauss (33) has returned to first-team training at OGC Nice after missing the midweek win over Lille OSC. It came after the France international was withdrawn during the win over Stade Rennais over the weekend.

It was Clauss himself who asked to come off with a knee issue. Earlier this week, L’Équipe reported that the defender would be out for several weeks. Franck Haise, responding to the report, said, “On Monday, there wasn’t much. It didn’t even require further tests. What is certain is that, if he is to be absent for several weeks, it isn’t because of his knee,” said the Nice manager. 

There is an implicit accusation that Clauss is exaggerating his injury in order to extend his period of absence amid tensions with the club, relating to his failed summer move to Bayer Leverkusen.

There is a suspicion internally at Nice that Clauss has yet to fully move past that failed move to Bayer Leverkusen, and, on top of that, he is trying to limit his appearances so as not to trigger a contract extension.

However, L’Équipe now report that, on Thursday, Clauss was present at the first-team training session, and so he is in contention to face Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.  

GFFN | Luke Entwistle